Compartmented package



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. IA.

H. N. MOORE COMPARTMENTED PACKAGE Feb. 22, 1966 Filed Nov. 9, 1962 F IG.

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ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 H. N. MooRE COMPARTMENTED PACKAGE 5 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Nov. 9, 1962 ..0 nlnf Re .la m 52 mw 3 WM a YM W -l 9 i mmm G. Nf n d s m .2 y w 3 3 m lll. vin@ B .m y m .y m., B. w m mf F ||.8.T Mw 2(I \[1 A TTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 H. N. MooRE COMPARTMENTED PACKAGE FiledNov. 9. 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F IG. I3

INVENTOR.

|27 Howard Nelson Moore ATTORNEYS United States Patent Olice 3,236,369Patented Fel). 22, 1966 3,236,369 COMPARTMENTED PACKAGE Howard NelsonMoore, Silver Spring, Md.; George W. Moore, administrator of the estateof said Howard N. Moore, deceased Filed Nov. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 236,558Claims. (Cl. 2116-56) The present application is a continuation-impartof my copending applications Serial No. 411,235, tiled September 17,1941, now abandoned in View of Serial No. 92,- 476, tiled May 10, 1949,now U.S. Patent No. 2,808,691, granted October S, 1957, and acontinuation of my application Serial No. 454,912, tiled September 9,1954, now abandoned.

The present invention concerns the packaging of a numher of relativelysimilar objects, articles or units of material in a multicompartmentalpackage, and the preservation lof the packaged units.

Reference is made to U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,255,- 432, granted to meSeptember 9, 1941, on analogous subject matter, for supplementarydisclosure and background. See also U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,015,917,granted to me January 9, 1962 for Individual Packaging Apparatus,Method, an'd Package on application Serial No. 688,756 tiled October 7,1957.

It is an object of the invention to provide a package of similar unitsof material which are individually wrapped, each unit being sealedagainst contamination or change by any foreign matter, bacteria,moisture, undesired oxidation, other undesirable chemical changes, orthe like. The present invention provides a package comprising individualunits of similar character which are contained in individualcompartments formed of cup-shaped elements which may overlap in scalingrelation one with the other to form a unitary package of substantialstrength whereby to guarantee the integrity of the sealed character ofthe individual compartments.

It is an object of the invention to package individually, like units ofmaterial comprising candy lozenges, candy mints, pigments, putty,extracts, chemicals, tablets, pharmaceuticals, slices of bread, cakes,cookies, cheese, fish, sea food, meat, meat products, tobacco, spices,tea, sugar, flour, meal and without limitation, loose materials of allkinds, including granulated, powdered or viscous materials and liquids.These products may be packaged in measured units to facilitate usewithout waste and to achieve a desired result. Diverse articles may bepackaged such as complete meals, food and drink mixes, sandwiches,condiments or any compound ready mixed or in its component parts.

It is an object of the invention to provide a package for individualunits of perishable materials, such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals,foodstuffs and the like which can be irradiated by iissionable materialor a radiation generating device, or any suitable radioactive materialor source.

The radiation herein referred to may be low level radiation of materialsbefore packaging or preferably of the packaged material with allcoverings and seals intact. Although low level radiation is at thepresent time preferred because it provides adequate normal protection tothe otherwise perishable contents without interference with taste, odor,or other characteristics, the invention is not limited to this type ofirradiation. Where the objection to discoloration, changes in smell, andtaste, are not limiting factors or they are controllable withinacceptable limits, the invention is intended to be utilized for thepackaging of food which i-s sterilized completely whereby refrigerationcan, in most cases, be dispensed with entirely. Such packages may beused in the field on long trips or merely stored on a shelf and used aunit at a time as required.

While the present technique of relatively low level i1'- radiation forpasteurization is preferred, and it is not intended for normal use tomake the packages or their contents radioactive, such treatment is notprecluded where the maintenance of the otherwise perishable contentsunder highly `adverse conditions is paramount to taste, smell and otherrequirements regarding changes in characteristics. cEven in these cases,sterilization is all that would be required and it is only where thereis danger of contamination from the outside by penetration or rupture ofthe compartment walls or the sealed joints that radioactivation of thecontents, however mild, is resorted to. Until these techniques areimproved, it is contemplated =that the pasteurized packages of the moredelicate or more, perishable foods will be refrigerated as well.

The air contained in the individual compartments of the package may bewithdrawn and replaced by an inert gas such as nitrogen or other airwhich has been sterilized. Nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, neon or thelike are preferred where oxidation is a deleterious factor. If desired,the sterilized air or inert gas itself may be radioactivated beforeinjection in those cases where a long period of storage under highlyadverse conditions is contemplated. If any chemical reaction, perfumingeffect, coloring, taste, texture or food value change or any otherchemical or physical combination or mixture is desired, the proper gasor material may of course be introduced before, during packaging, orlater.

It is to be understood that in all cases where the package and itscontents are radioactivated, sufficient shelf life or other storage timemust be allowed prior to human consumption to assure against poisoningfrom this source. Such packages, as well as those just discussed above,are preferably dated, showing time of sealing or the date after whichthey may be opened and used with good effect and safety.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for producing apackage of a number of articles which are individually wrapped.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for producing apackage containing a number of substantially sterile articles, each ofwhich is sealed against contamination by any foreign matter, moisture orthe like.

The present invention provides a device whereby individual units ofsimilar character may be rapidly and securely packaged individually by asingle strip of paper. While the invention is primarily intended topackage relatively small articles such as lozenges, candy mints,tablets, pharmaceuticals, it nevertheless may be applied to much largerthings such as slices of bread, cakes, cookies or anything which lisfairly regular in outline and has two reasonably flat surfaces.

It is not, however, limited to such articles and may be utilized topackage loose material such as tobacco or sugar which need notnecessarily be compressed into tablet form. The invention finds animportant application in the held of food packaging. Many perishablefoods, for example meat patties, may he packaged individually in thesame package by the present invention and may thereby eliminate the needfor refrigeration where the food product has been irradiated, mixed withantibiotics, or other preservative means employed. lt will beappreciated that the opening of one or more compartment units willneither disturb nor contaminate the remainder of the package. While theunits need not be round, they should preferably be substantially uniformin shape.

The term article is used herein as a thing of a particular ciass orkind, as deined at page 156 of Websters New International Dictionary,Second edition, Unabridged, G. & C. Merriam Company, publishers, 1947.

The present invention may utilize a feeding table in the central portionof which is an aperture of such size as to receive the article. Theaperture is surrounded by a depending tube with a flaring lip. A roll ofwrapping paper of suitable width is disposed at one side of the tableand led by suitable guides and feeding rollers across the aperture, asshown and described in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,808,691 and 3,015,917 supra.Above the aperture is positioned a die punch. The paper is fed acrossthe aperture by suitable mechanism and the article to be wrappedpositioned thereon. A die punch is then lowered to cut a suitable blankfrom the paper. The edges of the blank may be tongued or not as desired.A punch which is associated with the die structure forces the article tobe wrapped and the small paper blank upon which it rests into the aringmouth of the aperture. There is suicient margin provided on the paperblank to leave an upstanding annular collar extending well above thearticle to be wrapped. The article rests within the tube in a dish-likecompartment, the top of which is open. The feeding rollers advance thepaper strip so that it again covers the aperture and a second article isdeposited thereon over the aperture and substantially centrally thereon.The die punch again descends, cuts a second blank and forces the articleand the blank on which it rests into the tube on top of the rst article.The second blank will be seen to form a cover for the'rst article andthe marginal portion of the first blank Will extend up around the sidesof the second article on the outside of the second blank. This operationis repeated and the articles force each other down the tube which, afterthe mouth portion is passed, is of such diameter as to cause themarginal portion of the blanks to fit snugly against the outside of theside of the next succeeding article and blank. The tongued portionspermit easy overlap at this stage. The paper may be waxed, coated, or ofheat sealing cellophane or the like. A portion of the periphery of thetube may be heated by any suitable means such as a heating coil, causingthe marginal portions of the blanks which are folded against the sidesof the succeeding blanks to adhere thereto in a Vapor-proof gas-tightseal. The article is entirely enclosed between the two blanks in anindividual compartment. If desired, the die punch structure may be madehollow and the articles deposited on the paper strip over the aperturefrom a magazine feed in the hollow portion of the punch. In this Way thearticle is deposited substantially simultaneously with the dieing out ofthe paper blank. A perhaps simpler construction may be obtained byemploying a separate mechanism for positioning the articles. This isparticularly true where some variation in size must be dealt With.

Pre-formed cups may be used to form the package by nesting them in thetube where the cup walls overlap and are sealed. Pre-formed cups mayalso be pre-filled.

In addition to the other means for the preparation of food, disclosedherein, it is an object of the invention to use the penicillins and themycins, such as aureomycin, alone or together with similar and relatedantibiotics, which shall be selected for their disinfecting orantibiotic properties, with a minimal etect on taste and color. Thesesubstances may be added to the foods prior to packaging, and mixedtherewith or sprayed thereon as desired. Again, the method of foodpreservation employed herein may utilize short sound waves which areultrasonic in character, alone or in addition to the irradiationdiscussed at length. It is a-lso contemplated that dehydrofreezing, thatis deep or quick freezing with small crystal formation supplemented bysublimation of the ice crystals with or without the application of avacuum, may be incorporated as steps in the process of forming a packageaccording to the invention. It will be understood that in order tomaintain quality with minimum deleterious action on the packaged foodstwo or more of the above preserving means or processes may be employedin combination or successively on food to be packaged or food in thepackages.

In the drawings like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevation in section of one form of theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along line 2 2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is one form of package having a formed closure of part of thewrapper.

FIGURE 4 is another form of package having an added closure member.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic showing of the various treatments to which thepackage may be subjected in sequence.

FIGURE 1A is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of the newpackage.

FIGURE 2A is a plan View of one form of partition member.

FIGURE 3A is a section along line 3A-3A of FIG- URE 2A.

FIGURE 4A is a fragmentary portion of FIGURE 1A enlarged to show detail.

FIGURE 5A is a modication of FIGURE 4A.

FIGURE 6A is a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 7A is a plan View of the form of partition members used inFIGURES 1A, 4A, 5A and 6A.

FIGURE 8A is a section taken along line 8A--8A of FIGURE 7A.

FIGURE 9A is a sectional View of a modied form of the invention.

FIGURE 10A is a plan view of a pre-formed cup forming one of theelements of FIGURE 9A.

FIGURE 11A is a section along line 11A--11A of FIGURE 10A.

FIGURE 1B is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of the newpackage.

FIGURE 2B is a plan view of one form of partition member.

FIGURE 3B is a section along line 3B-3B of FIG- URE 2B.

FIGURE 4B is a fragmentary portion of FIGURE 1B enlarged to show detail.

FIGURE 5B is a modification of FIGURE 4B.

FIGURE 6B is a modied form of the invention.

FIGURE 7B is a plan View of the form of partition members used in FIGURE6B.

FIGURE 8B is a section taken along lone SB-SB of FIGURE 7B.

FIGURE 9B is a sectional view of a modilied form of the invention.

FIGURE 10B is a plan view of one of the elements of FIGURE 9B.

FIGURE 11B is a section along line 11B-11B of FIGURE 10B.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged section of the package of FIGURE 9B without anouter wrapper.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged section of the package of FIGURE 9B with amodified closure.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged section of the package of FIGURE 9B with aclosure such as shown at the top of FIGURE 1B.

FIGURE 15 is a modified form of the invention for packaging larger flatunits such as slices of bread, hamburger patties, cheese slices,luncheon meat, sandwiches and the like.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional elevation of one form of spacer or supportelement to be employed where the: packaged contents are fragile ordelicate in one sense: or another.

FIGURE 17 is a section closure or spacer element. which may be employedin certain forms of the invention.

One form of the invention comprises a machine frame 10 of usualconstruction which supports a table 11 haw ing a central aperture 12. Anannular guide ring 13 is mounted on the under side of the table 11 andsurrounds aperture 12. A tapered channel 14 in the ring 13 connectsaperture 12 and tube 15 which is mounted on the under surface of ring13. Aperture 12, channel 14 and tube 15 are aligned and form acontinuous passage which is progressively smaller in cross sectionalarea from aperture 12 to the upper end of tube 15. While aperture 12 andchannel 14 are shown as frusto conical and tube 15 is cylindrical itwill be understood that these elements may have polygonal, elliptical,or any other suitable crosssection to conform with or to form thepackaged units or the package produced. The lower end of tube 15 mayhave a somewhat enlarged diameter at 16 and may be connected withanother tube orslide to deliver completed packages to a box or othergrouping of packages as a merchandising sales package.

At one side of aperture 12 a narrow roll 17 of strip packaging materialsuch as waxed paper, coated heat or pressure sealing cellophane, coatedheat or pressure sealing foils or the like is mounted at 18 on frame 10and table 11. The narrow strip 19 is led over curved guide 20, along theupper surface of table 11 between feed rolls 21 and 22 and over aperture12 to a very slightly raised stop edge 23 in table 11. Table 11 isconstructed with its upper surface at two slightly different levels,that portion to the left of stop edge 23 in FIGURE l being higher thanthe portion to the right by the thickness of strip 19. Additional feedrolls 21, 22 may be provided if desired to assure that strip 19 liesflat and does not buckle.

A guide sleeve 24 is supported by frame 10 directly over aperture 12 intable 11. A cutter member 25 is slidably mounted within guide sleeve 24and provided with an annular cutting edge 26 and radial slitting knives27. Annular cutting edge 26 dies out a circular blank from strip 19 andradial knives 27 cut radial slits in the outer edge of the blank. Wherepucker is a problem slitting knives 27 may take the form shown at 28 andremove small wedge-shaped sectors from a blank.

Centered within guide sleeve 24 is a tube 29 which makes sliding contactwith an air tight packing gland 30 in the upper closed end 31 of guidesleeve 24. An annular piston plate 32 is mounted on tube 29 at 33 andslides smoothly within the guide sleeve 24. A coil spring 34 isconnected at one end to the lower side of annular piston 32, at the endto the upper side of cutter member 25 and surrounds that portion of thetube 29 between piston 32 and cutter 25. Mounting means 33 firmly unitespiston 32 and tube 29, but cutter member 25 can slide relative to bothsleeve 24 and tube 29 under the reaction of the cutting force exerted onstrip 19 and the effect of spring 34.

Tube 29 may contain a central resilient plunger element 35 of rubber orthe like as shown in FIGURE l, or it may contain a series of closuremembers 36 of cardboard, iiber, plastic or other material as shown inFIG- URE 4. Where closure members 36 are employed tube 29 extends upwardinto a supply hopper in which it reciprocates under the combined actionof a piston and a restoring spring. The restoring spring is anchored tothe inner wall of sleeve 24 by bolts and acts against the under surfaceof the piston. It is to be understood that although sleeve 24, cuttermember 25 and tube 29 are shown as circular in cross-section they may beof any shape suitable to cooperate with aperture 12, channel 14 and tube15.

The upper portion of sleeve 24 between the end closure and the annularpiston comprises a pneumatic cylinder to which air under suitablepressure is supplied from a compressor-reservoir combination by asuitable pipe. A combination control and bleed valve is connected in thepipe and is operated by a solenoid connected in turn to the main controlpanel by lead wires.

A closure member ejector is mounted on an inner wall of sleeve 24 withthe pneumatic cylinder portion. The ejector comprises a pointed armaturemovable toward closure elements 36 under the action of an energizingwinding connected to the control panel by lead wires. A lightcompression spring maintains the armature inoperative when the Windingis not energized. The armature operates by extending through a slot intube 29 and holding the column of closure members 36 stationarymomentarily until the lowest element 36 is ejected from tube 29.

An article supply tube 51 is mounted on frame 11 adjacent sleeve 24.Supply tube 51 may be connected to a hopper or other supply forcontinuous feed of articles 52 to be packaged or the tubes 51 may bereplaceable when empty. Beneath article supply tube 51 is mountedarticle positioning arm 53 having a curved article receiving faceportion 54 and an elongate arcuate tail portion 55. Tube 51 is raisedsuiiiciently above table 11 to allow ample clearance for the passage ofarm 53 and a single article 52. Arcuate tail portion supports theremaining articles 52 until arm 53 is returned. Arm 53 is operated by aspring return solenoid 56 and pivoted connecting rod 57 with suitablelinkage. Solenoid 56 is connected the main control panel by lead wires58.

Feed rolls 21 and 22 are driven by motor 59 connected to control panelby lead wires 60. Motor 59 vdelivers just the right amount of strip 19Without drift.

Where the outline of cutting edge is other than rectangular an edgingknife 61 is mounted on cutter member 25 by stud bolts 62 which move inslot 63 in guide sleeve 24. Trimmings are removed through cleanerchannel 64 connected with a suitable source oi low pressure and having avalve 65 operated by the descent of cutter member 25 or synchronizedtherewith through lead wires. lnstead of using knife 61, roll 22 may bea serrating roll of a circumference equal to the length of wrappingportion 79 and positioned close enough to aperture 12 that only a singleserration 89 exists in strip 19 at any one time.

ln that form of the invention which employs resilient plunger element 35instead of closure members 36 closure of a package is effected in adifferent manner. A solenoid 66 is mounted on the underside of table 11.A depending arm 67 provides a pivot for bent lever arm 68 one end ofwhich is connected to plunger 69 of solenoid 66 and the other end has awidened package engaging portion 70. An elongated slot 71 in the lowerpart of tube 15 permits the passage of lever portion 'itl which may becurved to iit the bottom of the package. Lead Wires 72 connect solenoid66 to the control panel and may have a suitable delay device or network73 in the circuit.

Top closure forming mold 74 is mounted on top of table 11 on an arm 75which swings it clear of strip 19 which may be carried in a recessedchannel in table 11. Arrn 75 is mounted in and operated by a springreturn solenoid 76 which is connected to the control panel by lead wires77. Heating element 7S is mounted on table 11 directly above closuremold 74 and is connected to a suitable source of power, including highfrequency.

As noted above in connection with the structure of FIGURE 1, theproportions of the tubular member 15 may be such as to supply amplefriction for the packaging step and successive packages force finishedpackages through the tubular member, the diameter of which may in itselfprovide sufficient resistance to assure proper nesting of the packagesegments, into the shipping case or to the next station for successiveoperation. 'Ihe tongue portions of the wrapper elements permit easyoverlap at the cup forming stage. Where the paper is Wax coated orcoa-ted with heat sealing plastic material ior the like, a portion ofthe periphery 'of the tubular magazine may be heated by suitable meanssuch as a heating coil, which causes the marginal overlapping portionsof t'he nested wrapper elements to adhere into a vapor-proof, gas-tightseal which produces a structurally strong, unitary columnarcompartmented package. The heating coil or a similar one may also beemployed to carry high frequency currents to aid in pasteurizing,pre-cooking or cooking the material in the several compartments. Asnoted above, Ithe article is entirely enclosed between adjacent nestedblanks in an individual sealed compartment. If desired, `the die punchstructure may be made hollow and the article deposited in a cup in theaperture from. a magazine formed in the hollow portion of the plungerimmediately at the start of the return stroke or substantiallysimultaneously with the dieing out of the dish-like wrapper element inthe aperture. A perhaps simpler construction may be obtained byemploying a separate mechanical feed for depositing the article in thecup following the return stroke of the die. This is particularly truewhere some variation in size must be dealt with or pre-fonmed pre-lledcups are used. Such structure could be similar to that shown in FIGURE1.

The number may vary from two compartments in a single package to anunlimited number where continuous packaging is done for some types ofdispensing machines. In general, however, a package will usually havefour, six, nine or twelve articles or uni-ts individually packed, thoughthese numbers are not to be taken as limiting.

In order to provide sufficient strength in tension to form a strong,unitary structural member of the nested elements thereby forming apackage that will resist accidental rupture, the overlap betweenadjacent nested element must extend a distance along the package atleast a quarter of the average width of the package whereby the bondbetween adhered elements has an area at least as great as -the area ofcross-section of the package.

As shown in FIGURE 5, following the sealing or closure of the top of thefinished package the package is dropped into a shipping box, irradiationchamber 401, vending device or apparatus for performing the nextfunction, i.e. flash freezer, vacuum chamber compartments 401 orseparate chambers 401, followed by a chamber with a selected gas underpressure, high frequency cooking, pasteurizing chamber or the like.Where vacuum and gas filling are employed, the sealing ring which mayalso carry high frequency current may be placed on tubular channelmember which may incorporate vacuum and gas pressure channels 400i and402 as a part thereof in advance of the sealing ring position.

Package sealing and releasing for different sized packages of fourthrough twenty-five or more compartments may be controlled by changing agear on a cam. shaft lto produce the particular package required.

Where pre-formed cups such as those shown in FIG- URE 10A are used,positioning structure similar to elements 51 through 58 of FIGURE 1 maybe used and strip feed eliminated.

It is within the scope of the invention to combine the above apparatusin its several forms with a controlled irradiation chamber or chambers401 whereby the packaged products may be irradiated when in the packageso as to assure against possible contamination. Where control issufficiently close to guard against possible contamination, theirradiation step may take place as shown in FIGURE 5, during, or justprior to the actual packaging step, as well as subsequently. It will beunderstood that the packaging device and the packages themselves may beincorporated as part of a coin controlled vending machine whereby thepackages may be dispensed from automatic machines in any desiredquantity at any desired price. As is usual in such cases, machines ofthis type make change and display the several commodities being vended.The machine may be dial type, wherein the purchaser may select thenumber of packaged units which he wishes to purchase and in which theyselected number may be cut from a long columnar package. For thispurpose the packaging machine itself may be continuous and need notnecessarily produce packages with a pre-selected number of compartments,though such a package with a pre-selected number of compartments isprobably preferable for many types of marketing, including automaticvending machines. Where highly elastic plastic sheets or envelopes areused for the packaging means, it will be understood that thecompartments may be achieved by merely twisting the cylindrical wall ofthe columnar package between meassured units of the packaged product.For this purpose alternate segmented unit portions may be rotated inopposite directions to achieve the complete twisted enclosure ofadjacent compartments, as discussed in U.S. Patent No. 3,015,917.

In regard to the irradiation of the packaged material, reference is madeto the report of ythe Committee on Foods of the symposium on irradiationsterilization of foods of the National Academy of Science NationalResearch Council Advisory Board on Quartermaster Research andDevelopment, held at Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 26, 1953.

The packages shown in FIGURES 1A through 11A show a number of similarunits .for example, 20 within an outer wrapper for example 21 whichgrips the units 20 and forms the package. As shown in FIGURE 6A, wrapper21 may be a cylinder made up from a rectangular sheet. Between 4each ofthe units 20 is a partition member 22' which is preferably circular butmay be of any desired outline. Member 22.' preferably has a certainstiffness but may be of the same material as wrapper 21 if desired.Wrapper 21 and partition member 22 may be of waxed paper, metal foil,regenerated cellulose, or any of the materials mentioned previously.They may be treated with waterproofing and sealing coimpounds common tothe art, comprising wax, plastic coatings, and the like. Such compoundsmay be pressure or heat sealing. Partition 22 may be thickened at itsedge as at 23 so as to form a better joint 24 with wrapper 21. Enlargedpartition 23' may be formed by the material of partition 22 or it may be`a concentration of sealing compound or both. Partition 22' may be ofsubstantially the same diameter as units 20 and so contact wrapper 21without the indentations shown at 25 in FIGURES 4A and 4B.

In FIGURE 5A partition 22 contacts the sides of indentations 26.Partition 22 may merely rest or may be adhered to the in-turned angecounterpart of 26.

lFIGURE 6A presents a modified partition 27 shaped like a saucer with aprojecting rim 28' the outer portion of which may be adhered `to wrapper21'.

FIGURE 9A shows a development of the concept of FIGURE 6A. Herepartitions 30 have become relatively deep and cup-shaped with high walls31 which receive the bottom of the one next above. High walls 31 may beadhered to the bottom side portions next above and form a completepackage without the aid of wrapper strip 21. Wrapper 21 may, however, beused with the structure of FIGURE 9A yas in FIGURE 6A. Adherence may beobtained through the agency of a heat sealing coating on the materialcups 30 such as is common in the cellophane packaging art. Again,Contact sealing may be obtained by using a latex sealing compound on theoutside near the bottom of cups 30 and at the inside near the top. Ofcourse any suit-able adhesive may be used. The package may be closed byreversing a cup 30 at the upper end -or folding over and sealing theupstanding walls 31. A disc closure such as 32' may be used to which theopstanding walls 31 of the top cup can be adhered.

Normally walls 31 have enough flare and give to receive the bottom ofthe unit next above in snug, closelling relation. However as seen inFIGURE 11A, -a reduced portion 33 may be employed or the walls 31, maybe regarded as enlarged. This allows for the lap and produces a smoothpackage. This last is thought to possess its main value when the units20 are large or heavy and it becomes necessary to increase the thicknessof the elements 30 accordingly, or an especially strong seal is desiredfor particular applications. Slits 34 may be used to facilitateintertting and forming of the cupshaped elements 30 or may function asindividual openmeans for each compartment.

It will be noted that each article is packaged with its own individualcompartment, the opening of which in no way disturbs the remainingarticles. Where the wrapping material is used, contrasting colors can beused effectively to bring out the individualized compartments of thepackage.

In FIGURES lB-6B the package is made up of a number of similar units 20"such as mints, tablets, discs, nuts or any of the items mentioned. Whilethe units 20" need not be round, they should preferably be sufficientlyuniform in shape to be handled by automatic machinery. An outer wrapper21" grips the units 20" and forms the package. Wrapper 21" may be acylinder made up from a rectangular sheet or it may be a helix built upfrom a long narrow strip with or without the inwardly projecting edgedisclosed in the patent mentioned above. Between each 4unit is apartition member 22" which is usually circular, but may be of anydesired outline. Member 22 preferably has a certain stiffness, but maybe of the same material as wrapper 21" if desired` Wrapper 2" andpartition member 22 may be of waxed paper, coated metal foil, plasticmaterial, regenerated cellulose, Saran, cellophane, Pliofilm,polyethylene, vinyl plastic, or the like. They may be treated withwater-proofing and sealing compounds common in in the art. Suchcompounds may be heat sealing if desired. Partition 22 may be thickenedat its edge as at Z3 so as to form a better joint 24 with wrapper 21".Enlarged portion 23" may be formed by the material of partition 22" orit may be a concentration of sealing compound or both. Partition 22 maybe of substantially the same diameter as units 20" and so contactwrapper 21" without indentations such as 25".

In FIGURE B partition 22" is in Contact with the sides of indentations26". Where a helical outer wrapper is used the edge may be folded overslightly after the manner taught in the above mentioned patent.Partition 22" may merely rest on or may be adhered to the inturned angecounterpart of 26". With only a slight turning in a helical wrapper 21"does not cover the entire inner face of the unit 20.

FIGURE 6B presents a modied partition 27" shaped much like a saucer witha projecting rim 28 the outer portion of which may be adhered to wrapper21". Here again wrapper 21 may be formed from a narrow strip wound in ahelix if desired, or a group may be assembled with the partitions 27" inplace and all wrapped together in a rectangular sheet, making acylindrical package.

FIGURE 9B shows a development of the concept of FIGURE 6B. Herepartitions 30 have become relatively deep and cup-shaped with high walls31" which receive the bottom of the one next above. High walls 31" maybe adhered to the bottom side portions next above and form a completep-ackage without the aid of wrapper strip 21". Wrapper 21 may, however,be used with the structure of FIGURE 9B as in FIGURE 6B. Adherence maybe obtained through the agency `of a heat sealing coating on thematerial of cups 30 such as is common in the cellophane packaging art.Again, contact sealing may be obtained by using a latex sealing compoundon the outside near the bottom of cups 30 and at the inside near thetop. Of course, any suitable adhesive may be used. The package may beclosed by reversing a cup 30" at the upper end or folding over andsealing the upstanding walls 31". Of course, a disc closure as 32" maybe used to which the walls could be adhered.

Normally, walls 31 have enough flare and give to receive the bottom ofthe unit next above in snug, closetting relation. However, a reducedportion 33" may be employed or the walls 31 may be regarded as enlarged.This allows for the lap and produces a smooth package. This last isthought to possess its main value when the units 24)" are large or heavyand it becomes necessary to increase the thickness of the partitionelements 30" accordingly. Slits 34" may be used to facilitateinteriitting and forming of the cup-shaped elements 30".

The packages disclosed in FIGURES 9B-15B are products of the machinedisclosed in copending application Seri-al No. 92,476, and are ingeneral formed by nesting the individual elements 126" by pressing asheet of material into a tube with the material to be packaged centeredthereon, forming a cup surrounding the material, nesting a second cuptherewith and heat sealing the two together.

In FIGURES 12B and 13B the individual cup-shaped members 126 may beformed of regenerated cellulose such as cellophane with heat sealingwaterproofing coatings, thermoplastic materials such as Pliofilm,methylmethacrylate lm's, as well as many others. Preferably such filmsare transparent to disclose the contents of the individual compartmentsor units and may be of contrasting colors which may be employedeffectively to bring out and emphasize the individual compartments ofthe package. Again, where two or more adjacent cornpartrnents are to beused simultaneously, as for example tea and sugar, they may be of thesame distinctive color. In any given package colors may be used alone orwith indicia to indicate sequence of use or combination or othertreatment of the separate contents of the individual unit compartments.In pharmaceuticals, dangerous or sensitive materials in a package may bedistinctively indicated by color or imprinting.

Metal foils may be used alone or in combination with the above materialsto shield a complete package or a portion thereof from possibledeleterious effects of light or other radiation. Metallic coatings lmay,of course, be sprayed or painted on the members 126 or some of them,land wave-length selective filter materials may be used both to protectthe contents and permit inspection without destruction of the package.

The cup-shaped elements 126" may be preformed as shown in FIGURE 11b ormay be formed at the time the material is packaged. The package S8"usually contains six, eight or ten merchandise units 52 each containedin and separately packaged in the individual nested cupshaped members126" discussed above and having their bottoms spaced apart to formcompartments. The walls of the members 126 are relatively long,establish a substantial overlap with a nested member and closelyapproach the bottom of the second next adjacent nested cup, leaving anarrow annular band 127" of single thickness of material such that thestrength of the package 88 as a column is but slightly decreased and theopening of a single individual compartment is greatly facilitated. It isonly necessary to force a fingernail against narrow band 127 to giverise to a relatively high localized stress in shear in this narrow stripof single thickness. The closely adjacent edge of the double wallportion provides a stiff resistant shearing edge which cooperates withthe ngernail much like the blades of a pair of scissors. Where the cupmembers 126 are made of heat sealing cellulose or other coated sheetmaterial the nested members 126 are sealed together by a ring of sealingmaterial adhering to the outside of one cup-shaped member 126 adjacentits bottom and adhering to the inside of the next adjacent member 126"below adjacent to its top, forming a strong unitary structural member ofthe nested cup members 126". Closure 36" is preferably a little largerthan the units 52 to assure a good seal under pressure as the cups 126"pass heat ring 128" surrounding tube 15". For quicker setting of theheat seal, par- `ticularly for package 113, the heat effect of ring 128"is localized by making it part of the inner wall of tube and insulatingring 128" from the rest of tube 115 with fiber, porcelain, wood or thelike.

In FIGURE 12b a top closure such as 136l is used, preferably a littlelarger in diameter than the units 52 to assure a good seal underpressure as the walls of cups 126 pass by the heat sealing area in theforming tube described in application Serial No. 92,476. Allowance isthus made for the fewer layers of material on the sides of closure 136".Where desired, as with medicaments, products for home use and the like,the closure 136 may be a folded or coiled direction sheet.

In FIGURE 13b the package 113 differs from package 88". The closure ofpackage 113" is formed by folding over wall portions 129" of theuppermost cup member 126',l and heat sealing them. Portions 129" shouldbutt seal together in the center and overlap radially without thenecessity of adding an outer paper disc seal. However, such thin sealscan be substituted for closure 136 and added at the final punchoperation for each package 113 if desired. To allow for variations and4assure a complete closure a drop of liquid cellulose acetate may beadded to the center 130 during the forming step. Again, wall portions129 may be of such length that they extend slightly beyond center 130".

The overlapping wall portions 129" as shown in FIG- URES 14 and l5 ofpackages 200 and 300 comprise a preferred form of the invention atpresent because care need not be exercised to obtain exact registrationas with FIGURE 13b where the wall portions must meet without buckling.In package 200 the contents 201 may be coffee, tobacco, tea, sugar,headache powder, putty, butter pats, cheese portions, olive oil, iiour,corn meal, dehydrated potato, muffin mix, prepared rolls, ice cream,sundaes, custard, cream, fruit, processed eggs, individual first aiddressings or the like. In package 300 the contents 301 may be one or twobread slices, buttered bread, sandwiches, cakes, waies, beef hamburgerpatties, minute steaks, pork chops, crab cakes, individual meat pies,vegetables, tarts, iirst aid dressings for large areas, moist plastersand the like. An outer wrapper 302 is provided to give added securityagainst contamination and added strength against rupture. The wrapper302" will serve the major part of its function if it is applied only tothat portion of the package 3011) which is contained between the arrowsA-A in FIGURE 15. The overlapping seal 131 of the wall portions 12,9" issufficiently strong to provide a secure closure without the addition ofan outer wrapper 302". An unsealed free end portion 132 of theoverlapping wall 129" may be left for ease in opening if desired. In thesame way a free unsealed lip portion may be left at 133 for ease inopening if desired. Opening elements 127 and 132 may be used alone ortogether as desired.

Where the material 201" or 301" is soft and yielding, deformng readilyunder pressure, there is some danger that the packages 200 and 300 maynot retain their desired shape. In such cases stiifening inserts 203 ofFIGURE 16 of suitable configuration are placed within the cups 126" justprior to or at the time of inserting the material 201 or 301". A bottommember 204 of FIGURE 17 may be placed on the bottom of each cup 126 ormay carry the material being packaged at the time of introduction and ispackaged with it. Member 204 shown in FIGURE 17 may be formed somewhatin the manner of element 27 of FIGURES 7b and 8b to give some support atthe edges. While members 203 and 204 may be of help in effecting -asatisfactory seal between individual compartments, the packaging machineitself can usually be relied upon to produce such action.

Although the compartments need not all be of equal size, it is usuallybetter to make them equal or at least to provide a fixed sequence ofrecurrence where size difference is a factor and automatic packaging isdesired.

All of the packages above described may be irradiated and if desired, anouter enveloping wrap of heavy lead foil or sheet in addition to wrappermay be employed in the cases where the demands are most exacting.Tearing strips, V cuts at an edge of the plastic material, slits, scoresand perforations may be used in selected cases, where danger ofpremature opening or breaking of the seal is negligible, to promoteopening the individual compartments. In general, however, thosedescribed in detail above will suflice.

The antibiotics mentioned above comprise various natural molds,synthetic chemical compounds, and related products which either kill,sterilize or inhibit bacterial growth. They presently comprise thepenicillins, the aureomycins and the sulpha compounds, but it is notintended to limit the invention to the use of any particular one ofthese classes or drugs representative thereof, it being intended to usethat one or combination of such antibiotics as will produce the maximumpreserving effect for food and other products with a minimum ofdisagreeable or undesirable side effects such as undesirable changes intaste, color, food value, toxicity or the like. Of the sulpha drugs,sulphanilimide, sulphadizine, sulphathiazole may be taken asrepresentative. Other chemical products having the same general effectsuch as, for example, tetracycline, may also be employed.

While there have been presented above particular embodiments of theinvention now believed to be preferred, many variations will readilysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art in the light of the abovedisclosure. All of these different forms which fall within the spirit ofthe invention are intended to be covered by the appended claims whereingeneric terms are employed for the express purpose of including the manyequivalent structures by which the present results may be obtained.

What is claimed is:

1. A package of related articles comprising a plurality of nestedcup-shaped elements with packaged articles therebetween, the side wallsof each of said elements being overlapped with .a `portion of acontiguous nested element, each of said elements having a sealing regioninthe overlapped .portion of .the side walls whereby each of saidelements is adhered to a contiguous nested element at the overlappedportion to form a sealed compartment around an article, said overlappedporti-on extending a distance along said package at least 'a quarter ofthe width of said package, whereby the bond Ibetween adhered elementshas an area a-t least yas great as the area of the cross-section of said.package providing sufficient strength in tension to form a strong,unitary structure of said nested elements to provide a package tha-twill resist accidental rupture and whereby one compartment can be openedand its contents removed without aecting the contents of an adjacentcompartment.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the packagedarticles is surrounded by double layers of the material of the wrapperelements, said double layer formed by an overlapped portion, and anarrow band 4of single thickness of the material of the cup-shapedelements is provided between adjacent overlapped porti-ons around eaohcompartment whereby opening of the compartment is facilitated.

3. The combina-tion set `forth in claim 2, wherein the narrow band ofsingle thickness forms an indented channel immediately adjacent anoverlapped por-tion, Whereby the adhering portion of said overlappedportion is intimately associated ywith one side of said indentedchannel, thereby further strengthening the bond betiween adheredelements.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said nestedcup-shaped elements has a lseries of slits along its upper periphery,said slits extending generally in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said package.

5. The combination set forth in claim l, wherein the bottom of each ofsaid cup-shaped elements contains a separate stii reinforcing elementwhose outer periphery is in intimate 'facing contact with the 4bottomportion of its related cup-shaped element.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the packaged articlescomprise normally perishable mate- -rial treated to inhibit bacterialgrowth, said cup-like elements are sterile and composed of materialswhich substantially exclude air and moisture to maintain the sterilecharacter within said compartments, and said compartments contain aninert gas, whereby said normally perishable material may be stored atroom temperature for extended periods of time without deleteriouseffects.

7. A package comprising a 4plurality of related units in sideJby-siderelation, an outer wrapper sheet embracing said units and forming aunitary package, and nested, spaced partitioning elements, each of saidpartitioning elements being substantially thicker at its periphery thanat its center and tapering in thickness as its diameter decreases, andbeing adhered to said sheet over substantially all of the peripheralsurface of said partitioning elements to form a continuous imperforatepartition between adjacent units, whereby each unit is sealed in anindividual cell.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7, wherein said partitioningelements are of thin, flexible, sheet material and said outer wrappersheet has a series of indented channels formed therein, each of saidindented channels formed immediately adjacent a partitioning element,whereby the adhering portion .of said partitioning elements isintimately associated with said sheet at one side of said indentedchannels, thereby further strengthening the bonds between saidpartitioning elements and said outer wrapper sheet` 9. The combinationset forth in claim 7, wherein the compartments contain means inhibitingharmful activity by living matter therein, said means being an inertgas.

10. A package comprising a plurality of related units in `sidebysiderelation, an outer wrapper sheet embracing said units and lforming aunitary package, yand nested, spaced partitioning elements of -stitfmaterial, each of said partitioning elements being substantially thickerat its periphery than at its center and being Iadhered to said sheet atits peripheral surface to form a continuous imperforate partitionbetween adjacent units, and each of said partitioning elementscontacting over most of its major surfaces both adjacent units, each yofthe con-tacting surfaces of `the partitioning element substantiallyconforming to the shape of the surface of the `unit which it contacts,whereby said units are packaged in a strong, sturdy structure andwhereby each unit is sealed in an individual cell.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 194,197 8/1877Villeret 206-56 X 949,708 2/1910 Jenkins 206-5 6 979,381 12/ 1910Conery. 1,510,260 9/19-24 Cyrenius 206--5i6 1,745,929 2/1930 Grimmeisen206-56 1,815,800 7/1931 Respees 206-56 X 1,916,037 6/ 19313 Carlsen206-5 6 2,099,055 11/ 1937 Ferngren. 2,141,752 12/1938 Hoarle.

FOREIGN PATENTS 599,808 10/ 1925 France. 986,640 4/1951 France.

11,613 12/ 1924 Netherlands.

LGUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

THERON E. COND-ON, Examiner.

1. A PACKAGE OF RELATED ARTICLES COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF NESTEDCUP-SHAPED ELEMENTS WITH PACKAGED ARTICLES THEREBETWEEN, THE SIDE WALLSOF EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING OVERLAPPED WITH A PORTION OF A CONTIGUOUSNESTED ELEMENT, EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS HAVING A SEALING REGION IN THEOVERLAPPED PORTION OF THE SIDE WALLS WHEREBY EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS ISADHERED TO A CONTIGUOUS NESTED ELEMENT AT THE OVERLAPPED PORTION TO FORMA SEALED COMPARTMENT AROUND AN ARTICLE, SAID OVERLAPPED PORTIONEXTENDING A DISTANCE ALONG SAID PACKAGE AT LEAST A QUATER OF THE WIDTHOF SAID PACKAGE, WHEREBY THE BOND BETWEEN ADHERED ELEMENTS HAS AN AREAAT LEAST AS GREAT AS THE AREA OF THE CROSS-SECTION OF SAID PACKAGEPROVIDING SUFFICIENT STRENGTH IN TENSION TO FORM A STRONG, UNITARYSTRUCTURE OF SAID NESTED ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE A PACKAGE THAT WILL RESISTACCIDENTAL RUPTURE AND WHEREBY ONE COMPARTMENT CAN BE OPENED AND ITSCONTENTS REMOVED WITHOUT AFFECTING THE CONTENTS OF AN ADJACENTCOMPARTMENT.